Bodyfat % Scales Accuracy

**Little Herc** · 06-28-2009, 04:13 PM

Hey guy, I'm going to go to wal-mart latter and i thought about picking up a new set of Scales with the body fat display on the front. I have an old set of scales in the bathroom but I'm currently cutting and my gym doesn't have a meter for measuring body fat. Are these scale decently accurate. Doens't have to be perfect but close enough that it doesn't jump around when i step on it and i can tell day to day if i lost or gained. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I doesn't really fit into any. Thanks

**TractionIssues** · 06-28-2009, 04:16 PM

It will not be accurate, and I think looking in the mirror will give you a more accurate detail of your results.

**TractionIssues** · 06-28-2009, 04:18 PM

Anyway BF% is not important unless your a bodybuilder, it's just a number. What's important is that you look and feel good about yourself.

**Immortal Soldier** · 06-28-2009, 04:33 PM

How would it know your bodyfat when all you do is just stand on it?

**Phate** · 06-28-2009, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by Immortal Soldier

How would it know your bodyfat when all you do is just stand on it?

electric impedence is the most common method used by these scales, it measures the resistance in a current that it passes through your body, muscle is mostly water and thus a good conductor while fat is a bad conductor, the obvious problems being that hydration and dehydration can affect results greatly

**Ashop** · 06-28-2009, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Little Herc

Hey guy, I'm going to go to wal-mart latter and i thought about picking up a new set of Scales with the body fat display on the front. I have an old set of scales in the bathroom but I'm currently cutting and my gym doesn't have a meter for measuring body fat. Are these scale decently accurate. Doens't have to be perfect but close enough that it doesn't jump around when i step on it and i can tell day to day if i lost or gained. Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. I doesn't really fit into any. Thanks

Ive heard these are not very accurate for athletes for BF%. I would buy a good scale and get a set of fat calipers.

**Test247** · 06-28-2009, 05:38 PM

Horrible, I went from a smooth stomach at 220lbs to having pretty decent abs at 205lbs and my body fat scale showed a 1% difference in body fat.

I think theyre junk. It wants to say 15% almost no matter what, and I can see drastic differences in my physic.

**HIITB$** · 06-28-2009, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Phate

electric impedence is the most common method used by these scales, it measures the resistance in a current that it passes through your body, muscle is mostly water and thus a good conductor while fat is a bad conductor, the obvious problems being that hydration and dehydration can affect results greatly

^^ this is how i feel too!

It varies too much on how hydrated you are to be used to accurately...

**randym2690** · 06-28-2009, 08:55 PM

5-8% off best thing to use is bod pod or underwater weighing but very limited have acess next would be the calipers

**eatrainrest** · 06-28-2009, 09:06 PM

dont waste your money... and BF% is important for health related reasons and when designing a diet based on LBM...

**dstate52** · 06-28-2009, 09:24 PM

As reliable as BMI and you can do that for FREE

**KatsMeow** · 06-28-2009, 11:46 PM

Originally Posted by TractionIssues

Anyway BF% is not important unless your a bodybuilder, it's just a number. What's important is that you look and feel good about yourself.

I'm going to have to disagree with this statement, in order for people to help with cycles and so forth as well as dieting information Body Fat is a critical number.

**KatsMeow** · 06-28-2009, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by Phate

electric impedence is the most common method used by these scales, it measures the resistance in a current that it passes through your body, muscle is mostly water and thus a good conductor while fat is a bad conductor, the obvious problems being that hydration and dehydration can affect results greatly

They tend not to like implants, in case you have those as well...

**Phate** · 06-28-2009, 11:50 PM

Originally Posted by KatsMeow

They tend not to like implants, in case you have those as well...

not as much of a problem for me......yet

**KatsMeow** · 06-28-2009, 11:52 PM

Originally Posted by Phate

not as much of a problem for me......yet

LOL...

**lotsoftime** · 08-27-2009, 01:53 PM

The gym I used to go to used these religiouslly for new members and setting people up on diets/plans.

General comments is that they're a waist?

Was thinking of getting one for kicks...

**lotsoftime** · 08-27-2009, 02:02 PM

I'm a bit old school but I though to look into it anyways

more of what I found on them

http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/bodyfatscales.html

The 10 Top Tips When Buying And Using Body Fat Scales
1. Use them to measure your progress only. Don't compare your body fat
percentage to tables or to your friends score. It is probably inaccurate
no matter what the manufacturers say.
2. Choose body fat scales that have the right profile for you. If your
children are going to use them make sure they can be calibrated for
children. If you're an athlete (+10 hrs of strenuous exercise a week)
same thing applies. This is important. It makes a big difference.
3. Measure out some water one hour before you test yourself. Make sure
you always drink the same amount of water one hour before you test
yourself.
4. Measure yourself at the same time of day for each test.
5. Your skin temperature affects the electrical current used by the
scales. It's difficult but try to test yourself in a similar room
temperature each time.
6. Don't test yourself after exercising. When you exercise you sweat and
when you sweat you lose water. This affects your hydration levels and
hence... the results.
7. Thoroughly clean the foot pads, preferably with alcohol and then dry
them off each time you test.
8. Buy the most expensive body fat scales you can afford. Accuracy will
almost certainly increase with price.
9. If ever you get the chance, have your body composition measured by a
professional using skin fold calipers. It will give you a frame of
reference as to how accurate your scales are.
10. Read the page on body fat calipers
<http://www.sport-fitness-advisor.com/bodyfatcalipers.html> for an
alternative you could consider.